Saudi Arabia launches important awards for young researchers at COP16 Riyadh

2024-11-12 2024-11-12T13:04:31Z

Arab Weather - [Riyadh - Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, November 11, 2024] - As part of its presidency of the upcoming 16th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, "COP 16" Riyadh, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia launched the Young Researchers Awards at the Science Pavilion of COP 16. This prestigious competition, with a total prize money of $70,000, aims to support and accelerate pioneering research and innovative solutions to address land degradation, drought and desertification, noting that participation is open to students and young researchers from all over the world.

Seven awards of US$10,000 each will be given to young researchers (under 35 years of age) who have made significant contributions to sustainable land management, drought response, land restoration and land reclamation. The seven award categories cover land reclamation techniques, sustainable agri-food systems, equitable land governance, community and youth engagement, science, technology and innovation, capacity building and climate change adaptation, and sustainable land finance and investments.

The awards will be presented at a grand ceremony during COP16 Riyadh, where nominees will be invited to the Kingdom for a five-day stay, and will be given a unique opportunity to receive guidance and advice from a select group of experts in various relevant fields.

“The challenges of land degradation, drought and desertification are among the main causes of many issues affecting people around the world, the most serious of which are food and water insecurity and forced migration. COP16 Riyadh represents an opportunity to provide urgent solutions and help address these global crises,” said Dr. Osama Ibrahim Faqiha, Deputy Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture for Environmental Affairs and Advisor to the Presidency of COP16 Riyadh.

The awards aim to accelerate research, innovation and technology that can help address land degradation, drought and desertification, and support global efforts to restore land and strengthen capacities to address drought.

This international competition encourages applicants to demonstrate their innovative approaches to contributing to long-term sustainability and its widespread use, while focusing on how their work will benefit the Middle East region. Nominations will remain open until November 22, and the research will be evaluated by a scientific committee of leading experts in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The Young Researchers Awards at the Science Pavilion of COP16 come as the Kingdom seeks to accelerate global action to combat desertification, land degradation and drought, challenges that affect 3.2 billion people worldwide. With 40% of the world’s land degraded according to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, the Kingdom’s presidency in preparation for this upcoming event seeks to mobilize the international community to join efforts on a range of pressing issues, including land reclamation and capacity building to address drought.

The awards are part of a busy agenda at the conference’s Science Pavilion, a hub that showcases cutting-edge research and encourages collaboration between scientists, policymakers and stakeholders. The pavilion will be part of the first-ever Green Zone at the conference.

Researchers and innovators can submit their work through the award’s official website via this link

( https://www.unccdcop16.org/Scientific-Excellence-Awards ).

The impacts of land degradation are far-reaching and limitless. With less than 20 days to go until #COP16Riyadh , we call on all parties to prioritize the lives affected, who will continue to suffer from this urgent issue. As His Excellency Minister @AdelAljubeir emphasized, putting this issue at the top of our priorities enables us to… pic.twitter.com/6ZH67tksef

- COP16 Riyadh (@Cop16Riyadh) November 12, 2024

About COP16 Riyadh

COP16 Riyadh will be held from 2 to 13 December 2024 at Riyadh Boulevard, Saudi Arabia. Under the theme “Our Land. Our Future”, the conference will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification and aims to galvanize multilateral action on critical issues such as drought, land rights, and sand and dust storms.

Journalists are invited to apply for registration through the UNCCD electronic system.

For more information about the conference, or to register your interest in visiting the Green Zone, please visit: UNCCDCOP16.org.

For media inquiries, please contact: media@unccdcop16.org